Ryan’s father, Damion Hickman, told ABC Los Angeles his son become “hooked” on recycling when he visited a recycling center as a toddler.

“He really loved the actual act of putting all the cans and bottles into the machine and getting the money for it,” Damion said.

The family lives in San Juan Capistrano, California, and Ryan’s parents say his primary concern is the environment, especially keeping bottles and cans out of the ocean. He’s definitely a businessman with a heart — Ryan sells T-shirts on his website and donates the proceeds to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach “for the sea lions to get food and medicine.”

The young entrepreneur has a simple message that he hopes will resonate: “If you already recycle, just keep on recycling,” he said. “If you don’t recycle, start recycling.”